Research and Marketing Programs

Research Programs

Mushroom and Disease Monitoring

The purpose of the project has been to initiate the development of a state-of-the-art Pest and Disease Monitoring System for the mushroom growers of Australia. Current methods for detection and identification of disease-causing pathogens involve initial isolation of the pathogen into culture before subsequent morphological identification. This procedure is slow and can be unreliable. A system comprising rapid and accurate tools to detect and quantify the amount of a pathogen on a farm before it is visible would improve the disease management decision-making process and subsequent yields in mushroom production.

Some key outcomes of the research are:

• DNA-based methods for detecting key fungal diseases of mushrooms have been developed and trialled. Similar tools to detect key invisible viruses that pose disease threats to mushroom production have also been developed and trialled. These tools will allow the rapid and accurate identification of fungal- and viral-disease threats before they are apparent.
• Laboratory-based experiments have been undertaken to find the best sampling methods for detecting disease-causing agents in mushroom production units. This research is designed to determine the relationship between pathogen dose and the risk of disease and subsequent effect on yield. Data from these experiments will be used develop models for early prediction of disease and associated risks.
• A reference collection of fungal pathogens affecting mushroom operations in Australia has been established. Methods for detecting fungicide-resistance in these same pathogens have also been established and are being used to provide information to growers.
  

Mushrooms for Life Project

Market research has identified the link between mushrooms and improved health as a key driver to consumption over the next decade. This project tracks the many scientific papers and publications that deal with the nutritional and health promoting benefits of mushrooms, and collates them to provide a coherent and easy-to-understand summary of the benefits. During the project the industry has been able to establish strong international scientific links, with the collaboration with the US mushroom industry being very significant, as it has meant we have had inside knowledge of their mushroom research before the information is made available to the public.

The project enabled the creation of the Mushrooms for Life website and a series of fact sheets on the nutrition profile and the health benefits of mushrooms:

With an increased awareness of the health potential of mushrooms, mainly via Mushrooms for Life, the Mushroom Monitor (MU04001) has recorded the following since 2002:

The project has been the springboard for establishing the Mushroom and Health Research Unit at the University of Western Sydney. This unit will be analysing mushrooms for their vitamin and antioxidant content, as well as the effect of mushrooms on immune function and blood cholesterol. It is expected that the results will allow the industry to better promote the health benefits of mushrooms.

Investigating Market Opportunities for Spent Mushroom Compost

The Australian Mushroom industry has shown itself to be world leaders in the production and marketing of high-quality mushrooms. As a natural bi-product the industry also produces an increasing amount of Spent Mushroom Substrate (Mushroom Compost). This in itself is a useful and valuable product – so long as viable markets for it can be found and exploited. If such markets can not be found, then Mushroom Compost simply becomes a ‘waste’ output of mushroom production and must be disposed of. And as a waste, there are many issues that need to be addressed, not least of which are environmental considerations and the costs (to Mushroom growers) of disposal.

In short, in the past Australian growers have in the past been able to sell much of their Mushroom Compost, locally, for a modest price, thus enhancing the profitability of the Mushroom production business. But now, traditional markets are drying-up and there is intense competition. Growers find it harder and harder to sell their used Mushroom Compost and indeed are in some cases, paying to have it taken away.

Against this background, this project was commissioned to:

Click here to download a copy of the report.

Spent Mushroom Compost for Viticulture

Field-trials have demonstrated the benefits of spent mushroom compost as a soil amendment for vineyards. Incorporated in the soil prior to vineyard establishment, the spent mushroom compost can increase the early growth of young vines. Used as a mulch or soil conditioner at low application rates, spent mushroom compost conserves soil moisture, improves soil structure, and improves conditions for vine growth and production. Like any type of organic matter used for vineyard soil improvement, the key to making this consistent, quality source of organic matter work, is to get the application rate right. Click here for complete report.

AMSAFE

This project involved the development of a Crisis Management Plan for the Australian Mushroom Industry.

The Australian Mushroom Industry’s Crisis Management Plan provides the management system and guidelines for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from crisis situations that could possibly affect the Australian Mushroom Industry, both domestically and internationally.

AMSafe is managed by an authorised Committee which makes decisions about crisis management on behalf of the industry. There are designated alternatives for Committee members. The Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA) is the secretariat of AMSafe and the custodian of the Plan.

Facilitation of New and Existing Products for the Mushroom Industry

This is a vital, on-going research activity and during the latest phase of the project trials have been undertaken at the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit (MLMRU), University of Sydney with abamectin and pyrethrins.

Abamectin
Abamectin is in a class of recently introduced chemicals which have low mammalian toxicity and will be particularly valuable to mushroom growers in preference to existing chemicals.

Four (4) residue trials with abamectin have been completed using an emulsifiable concentrate formulation. Following completion of the series of trials, a report is to be submitted to the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) requesting approval for the chemical as an alternative to fenamiphos (Nemacur) for control of saprophytic nematodes and as an alternative to diazinon for control of mites.

Pyrethrins
Two (2) residue trials have been undertaken with pyrethrins (Pestigas) utilising a formulation containing the synergist, piperonyl butoxide . Pestigas is already approved for the control of adult sciarids and phorids during mushroom cropping but these trials were designed to evaluate residues from a new use pattern for the chemical of up to 9 applications during a single flush.

Mushroom Monitor

The Mushroom Monitor is a series of market research studies the industry has been undertaking periodically since 1991.
The latest results (July 2006) results were compared to those from similar studies conducted in July 2004 and October 2002. They were also compared with a 2005 USA Usage & Attitude study to provide a broader perspective. All Key Performance Indicators are trending in a positive direction. Since 2002:

• Annual purchase frequency has increased by 3.8
• Volume purchased has risen by 11.5%
• Average price paid has increased by 26%
• The price paid per kilo is 19.4% greater
• Mushrooms became 4% more a destination in the fruit and vegetable area of retail outlets

The results in consumer perceptions of mushrooms in 2006 pointed to a shift in the way people perceive mushrooms. The 2006 findings showed a dramatic increase in the nutritional rating with 64% rating mushrooms as very nutritional - 13% rise over the 2004 Mushroom Monitor findings. The segment with the highest rating in this area was people who recalled the radio advertising.

2007/08 Research Program

MU07006 - South Africa Study Tour

Attendance at ISMS 2008 congress which is held every 4 years. This congress is the premier world event for scientists and all people involved in the mushroom industry. The Australian Mushroom industry has indicated that many growers and scientists are wishing to attend the congress and so this application has been prepared to provide funding support for all attendees from Australia. Actual numbers will not be determined until January 2008. Attendance at the conference will address all industry priorities as indicated earlier in the proposal.

Past congress details can be found in the ISMS website (www.isms.biz) and proceedings are held in the AMGA library at Windsor NSW.

MU06013 - Facilitation of new and existing products

Trials will continue to be undertaken in the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit (MLMRU) at the University of Sydney to generate the necessary data for inclusion in submissions to AVPMA. The MLMRU has a broad-based Management Committee comprising industry members who recommend existing and new chemicals for which residue and / or efficacy data is likely to be required. There is on-going liaison with the HAL Minor Use Chemical Co-ordinator to ensure uniformity of policies and activities.

Recent research has generated data to support an application for the registration of cyramazine for the control of sciarids/phorids while results from a series of trials with carbendazim have been used to gain the issue of a permit for use of the chemical in the management of Verticillium spp, Mycogyne spp. and Trichoderma.

On-going research involves residue and efficacy studies with fenamiphos (to change the withholding period on the label) and neem oil (for use against Trichoderma and Verticillium). In addition, a series of trials are scheduled to determine the effects on fungicide degradation by chlorine compounds used for disinfection purposes in mushroom crops.

This on-going project will continue to generate the necessary data to facilitate registration of existing and new chemicals for the industry.

MU06021 - Managing Vector Transmitted Fungal Diseases of Cultivated Mushrooms

This project supports Integrated Pest and Disease Management of the Industry Strategic Plan. It will be undertaken at the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Fibre, University of Sydney and also on properties of co-operating mushroom growers and compost yards.

It is designed to develop protocols to manage mushroom fungal diseases that can be vectored by appropriate mushroom pests. The main problem is that some mushroom pests can place spores of fungal pathogens in optimal conditions for germination and also in areas of minimal fungicidal protection. This has series implicqations for disease incidence and development of fungicidal resistance.

The two fungal pathogens are dry bubble, caused by Verticillium fungicola and green mould, caused by Trocherma species especially T harzianum. The vector species are mushroom phorids, Megaselia halterata and mushroom scarids, Lycoriella ingenua and Bradysia occellaris for dry bubble and the red pepper mite, Siteroptes mesembrinae for green mould. Both fungal pathogens can be carried on dust and in soil, so are not totally reliant on vectors. However, the presence of vectors increases both the severity of the disease and the difficulty in managing the problem.

The project will determine the spore load carried by each of the vector species and also com pare the level of control obtained by a range of fungicides with and without vectors. In the case of dry bubble, some isolates show high levels of resistance to some fungicides, whereas others are susceptible. There is also a range in virulence, which is not necessarily related to fungicide susceptibility. There are several species of green mould, with considerable variation in virulence.

The expected outcomes from the project are

MU07000 - Development of a disease monitoring system for the Australian mushroom industry

This is an on-going project, following project MU05002 with its' already agreed objectives and cost benefit analysis, is utilising polymerase chain reaction (PCR) probes for detection of the most common and destructive mushroom diseases and then developing quantitative parameters for use of the probes.

Initially, Verticillium fungicola, which cuases dry bubble, is being used as the test species to determine controlled inoculation procedures, sampling protocols and fungal strain variations. Subsequent target pathogens include Trichoderma (green mould) and Cladobotryum (cobweb).

Industry-wide surveys are being undertaken to determine the major disease pathogens, with samples, being forwarded to DPI Victoria for DNA typing and isolte differentiation.

The development of specific PCR probes for different pathogens is being undertaken by Crop and Food Research, New Zealand. These will be used in the detection of fungal disease population, utilising some existing probes and others which are to be developed.

Research at the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit (MLMRU) at Sydney University is developing procedures related to PCR probe detections of programmed disease levels in crops.

Fluorescence technology will be used with specific PCR extracts to determine the quantity of fungal pathogens detected (QPCR).

This information will then be used at MLMRU and commercially to correlate the severity and timing of symptoms resulting from particular QPCR levels.

Following fundamental scientific studies and subsequent on-farm verification, a set of diagnostic protocols (SOPs) will be developed for the induswtry to enable growers to receive early notification of disease detection and quantitifcation based on samples submitted for PCR analysis.

Expected outcomes are expected to be:

MU06023 - Mushrooms and Health Research Portfolio

This project is designed to generate and disseminate information which demonstrates the nutritional and health-promoting benefits of fresh mushrooms with the objective of increasing product consumption.

Outcomes will be achieved through the activities of the related initiatives of the Mushrooms and Health Reearch Group (M&HRG) and the Mushrooms for Life Team.

The Mushrooms and Health Research Group at the University of Western Sydney will undertake a number of scientific studies to generate new data on the nutritional and nutriceutical values of mushrooms. Initial investigations will determine the content and biological activity of Vitamin B12 in Agaricus bisporus and also study the effects of mushrooms on human immune systems.

The Mushrooms for Life component of the project will assemble scientific data and publications (from the M&HRG Group and from worldwide sources) dealing with the nutritional and health-promoting benefits of mushrooms. Material will be prepared for publication on the muishroom industry website "Mushrooms for Life" from where it can be accessed by growers, wholesalers, retailers, general media, etc.

The expected outcomes are that information will be generated by this project which will be made available to industry and supply chain users to educate consumers about the health benefits of mushrooms.

MU06019 - Mushooms and Breast Cancer Research

The US and Australian Mushroom Industry and the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope in California believe there is sufficient evidence that Agaricus mushrooms could have a significant impact on breast and prostate cancer. This new project aims to test this pypothesis in human trials commencing in July 2007 and concluding in 2010.

The expected outcomes are:

1. Enhance the efficiency, transparency, responsiveness and integrity of the supply chain for the total industry to provide clear market signals.
2. Maximise the health benefits of horticulture products in the eyes of consumers, infuencers and government.
3. Position horticulture to compete in a globalised environment.
4. Achieve long term viability and sustainability for Australian horticulture.

Highlights from the 2006/07 Across Industry Program are available on CD. Topics such as:-

Future Focus - the Plan
Future Focus - The Process
Climate Change
Water for Horticulture
Go for 2&5
Minor Use Pesticide

Click here to download a copy of the Across Industry Project annual report.